Charter & Fractional
Marquis Card Founder Is Back with King Air 350i Flight Club
Wheels Up aims to democratize private aviation
New private membership program Wheels Up will be launched with a fleet of Beechcraft King Air 350is, with first deliveries from a 105-aircraft order slated to start before year-end and run through 2018.
New private membership program Wheels Up will be launched with a fleet of Beechcraft King Air 350is, with first deliveries from a 105-aircraft order slated to start before year-end and run through 2018.

Kenny Dichter, founder of jet-card innovator Marquis Jet, is re-entering the private aviation market with the launch of Wheels Up, a new private members club. The new company is set to place an $800 million order for 105 Beechcraft King Air 350i twin turboprops, with deliveries of the eight-passenger aircraft due to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, running through 2018.

According to Dichter, the choice of the latest King Air model will “redefine the entry point” for private aviation service offered through a closed-fleet model. The company is also working with Beechcraft to develop customized versions of the 350i to include Wi-Fi connectivity in the cabin. Dichter said the King Air is an ideal choice, providing superior storage and range/payload compared with other aircraft.